Fantasy Football Challenge - Football Fanatics Articles Archive

Enclosed in this archive is every bit of the action and updates that occurred in November 2003 within the world of fantasy football. You may want to read these articles for research on players in the coming year, or just check to see if we were way off base with our reporting. Whatever the reason, it's all here for your enjoyment.

Fantasy Football Challenge - November 2003 Fantasy Football Articles

Fantasy Football Challenge - November 2003 Article Archives

276 of 383

that broke open the game in the third quarter.

The Browns are not likely to change their approach, especially after handing the Steelers a 33-13 defeat in October. But other teams have been trying a different tactic and getting away with it.

"Theyre not disrespecting the passing game, theyre just saying if we can get back there and disrupt the quarterback, timing is everything," said Burress, who hasnt caught a touchdown pass since Week 2 in Kansas City. "For me and Tommy, me and his reads are based on timing and steps and being in the right place at the right time. They figure if they can get him to throw it early.... A couple times I was open and they got him to throw it real early last week and we had a couple overthrows.

"Thats all they need to do, get in there and get a little pressure, get a hand in his face and make him throw it premature, and Im still running my route and I havent even broke yet. Those are the things theyre trying to do. Its not necessarily daring us to pass. They just want to disrupt the quarterback."

Maddox had one of his better games against the 49ers, throwing accurately and completing 25 of 44 passes for 327 yards and a touchdown. His numbers would have been better except his receivers dropped eight passes, including three by Ward, the AFCs leading receiver.

But opposing teams, including the 49ers, have started bringing an extra player near the line of scrimmage to stop the run.Why?

"Lately, our running attempts are up and some of the formations were getting into are run formations," Maddox said. "They have a safety down to stop the run.

"We hadnt seen as much cover-2 lately. A lot of that, though, is scheme of defense. Arizona hadnt played cover-2 against anybody, and they played more [cover] 2 against us than they have but still not as much as we saw early in the season. The Rams mixed it up and the 49ers played a lot of one high [safety] and lot of seam coverage, which is two safeties but its more across [the field]."

The Steelers have made a more concerted effort to run the ball, but the results arent there. Jerome

Go to November 2003 Fantasy Football Articles Directory Page